12 Lessons
Parashat Hashavua More on Bonfires, Zionism, Torah, and Army
We saw last time that Israel has those who celebrate with fire the light of Torah and others who sit around bonfires to emulate non-religious pioneers. We looked to unify the two, which we will get to this week.
Parashat Hashavua On Bonfires, Zionism, Torah Learning, and IDF Service
Shemitta, with which our parasha opens, is one of the land-based mitzvot, which give expression to the sanctity of the Land of Israel in comparison to other lands. Rav Kook (Shabbat Ha’aretz, intro. to ch. 15) cited the Radbaz’s question: If the pre-Shemitta sale of the land to non-Jews eliminates the Land’s sanctity in regard to Shemitta, how can one fulfill the mitzva of living in the Land? Rav Kook answered that the Land’s sanctity is not a result of the possibility to fulfill the mitzvot related to it. Rather, the kedusha of the Land and the mitzva to live in it exist even when laws such as Shemitta do not apply. The gemara (Chagiga 5a) posits that exile of the Nation of Israel from its Land caused the greatest undoing of the Torah. Just as with the greatness of Torah, the basic level exists independently of the ability to fulfill the mitzvot commanded in it, so too the Land of Israel maintains its core value even if certain of its mitzvot are not in force.
P'ninat Mishpat Damages from a Car Accident
A was driving on a straight road and came to a sign that said to slow down because of cars pulling out of a parking area, which he failed to do. B pulled out of the parking area without looking properly and was hit immediately by A’s car, damaging both. Which of the two, both, or neither to pay for damages?
Bamidbar Looking for the Lost Mothers
“Fathers and sons” may be a good name for our parasha. Mothers and daughters are somehow missing.